Tunbridge Wells West Station and Shed (including Grove Tunnel and Grove Junction)
For very many years all services coming south from Ashurst and east from the Three Bridges line turned towards Tunbridge Wells. Passengers were required to change at Groombridge to go south towards Eridge. Although there was a direct line between "Ashurst Junction" and "Birchden Junction" it was only used for the storage of out of service locomotives. It was not until 7 June 1914 that direct services ran between Ashurst and Eridge. Thus a triangle of operational lines was formed in the area.
Groombridge and Tunbridge Wells West lost their passenger services on 6 July 1985 when trains between Eridge and Tonbridge were withdrawn. Eridge remains open, on the line between Uckfield and London, but one side of the station now also serves as a terminus for the Spa Valley service from Tunbridge Wells, which arrived in 2011. In the period between 1985 and 2011 parts of Eridge Station were left in poor condition but it has since been restored to a very high standard.
Separate collections cover (a) Eridge Station up to 2008; (b) Eridge Station 2008 - 2010; (c) Eridge Station 2011 - 2020; (d) Eridge Station from 2021; (e) Forge Farm Crossing; (f) The Birchden, Groombridge and Ashurst Triangle; (g) Groombridge Station; (h) Groombridge Signal Box; (i) East of Groombridge; (j) High Rocks Station; and (k) Tunbridge Wells Station and Shed.
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The exterior of Tunbridge Wells West Station looking east in a picture taken between 29.05.1985 and 01.06.1985. There are a good selection of cars of the era, not to mention a "daylight moon" shining in the top right of the picture. Note the ornate chimneys. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
Tunbridge Wells West Station, looking west, probably photographed on Saturday 01.06.1985. Although the main building survived the bulldozers after closure, for some reason they did not keep the Gents.... Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
Tunbridge Wells West Station, probably photographed on Saturday 01.06.1985. The tall, narrow cupboard between the main building and the Gents is a stretcher cabinet, then an important part of first aid equipment at stations. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
The interior of the Booking Hall at Tunbridge Wells West Station, pictured on Saturday 29.06.1985. The green notice identified the Area Manager to be Don Gallop, who you could contact at Redhill if you had any complaints (such as the closure of the service?). The white notice offered a "7 day season ticket" (but presumably only for the coming week, before the line closed?) Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
The former engine shed at Tunbridge Wells West Station, looking west, probably pictured on Saturday 01.06.1985. At the time the shed had no track, and the bricked up door at the bottom of the platform ramp would subsequently become a pedestrian access for the Spa Valley Railway, who restored the building and re-laid the track. If the shed had not been taken into departmental use it is possible that the building would not have survived for long enough to become a base for the Spa Valley Railway's locomotives. The adjacent station building is Grade II listed, but the shed was excluded from the listing on the grounds of not being "of special interest". The asbestos sheeting on the roof was fitted following bomb damage during the war. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
A fine array of Starting signals at the western end of Tunbridge Wells West Station, pictured on Saturday 01.06.1985. 'A' signal box is on the left as 1313 makes its way east into the station. Behind the train, around the bend, the eastbound Home signal is still raised for the passage of the train. To the left the westbound Advance Starting signal is at danger, and there is a glimpse of a set of buffer stops on a short siding, which would have been the headshunt for the goods yard. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
The former goods shed at Tunbridge Wells West, looking westwards, and probably photographed on Saturday 29.06.1985. The notice on the building says "G J Jones, Wholesale Fruiterer", but if you rang the number you would have been disappointed as the building was empty. The firm had subsequently been renamed "G J Jones & Son", but the notice being somewhat inaccessible Mr Jones' son had to make do with another sign at the western end of the building. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
1301 by the old goods shed at Tunbridge Wells West on 25.05.1985. The unit is in Platform 5 on a westbound service and the photographer is looking east. The notice on the right is different to the other end of the shed and says "G J Jones & Son, Wholesale Fruiterers". Inside the disused shed there is just a glimpse of the unloading platform, supported on pillars. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
A nice shot of the signals at the eastern end of Tunbridge Wells West Station, probably taken on Saturday 29.06.1985. On the left are the two Starting signals for the bay platform and eastbound platform respectively. Beyond 'B' signal box at the month of Grove Tunnel is the Advance Starter and a Shunt signal allowing (when cleared) shunting movements ahead into the tunnel to enable trains to change lines in the station. Beyond the tunnel is the Distant signal for Grove Junction, positioned so that drivers can see it through the tunnel. Within the box the signalman makes an appearance at the left hand window. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
Grove Tunnel western portal pictured after closure in 1985. The gate in the fence is open and the arms have been removed from the semaphore signal adjacent to the portal. The rear of the colour light signal is open and presumably components have been removed. Nick Mander retains all rights to this image.
Grove Tunnel western portal pictured after closure in 1985. The gate in the fence is open and the arms have been removed from the semaphore signal adjacent to the portal. The rear of the colour light signal is open and presumably components have been removed. Nick Mander retains all rights to this image.
Tunbridge Wells West Station on Wednesday 24.05.1989. The track has been lifted but the platforms and goods shed have yet to be demolished. Behind the goods shed the signal gantry still stands but the signal arms are long gone. The engine shed and a section of the platform beside it survived, and went on to be part of the Spa Valley Railway. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
The very overgrown western portal of Grove Tunnel pictured on Wednesday 24.05.1989. It appears that someone was having trouble demolishing the signal post. A hole had been dug at its base and it was leaning at a strange angle. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
Tunbridge Wells West Station building on Monday 18.08.1997 after it was converted into a "Beefeater Restaurant and Pub". You have to feel sorry for the man in the Nissan Micra. His customisation is not wholly successful and very much let down by the "space saver" spare tyre. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
Now moving to the eastern end of Grove Tunnel, 1311 is seen heading away from Grove Junction with the 12:58 Tonbridge to Uckfield service on Sunday 23.02.1975. Note the distant signal heavily offset to the right of the photo to improve sighting on the curve. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
1311headingawayfromGroveJcn.withthe12.58TonbridgeUckfieldSun.23.02.1975
1011 and 1012 leaving Grove Junction and heading towards Tunbridge Wells West to refuel on Sunday 23.02.1975. Mountfield Tunnel was closed at the time causing alterations to services that would normally have travelled to and from Hastings. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
1011and1012leavingGroveJcn.headingTunbridgeWellsWestrefuelSun.23.02.1975dueMountfieldTunnelclosure
1012 and 1011 heading east from Tunbridge Wells West (after refuelling there) and emerging from the eastern end of Grove Tunnel on Sunday 23.02.1975. The train is passing the Grove Junction fixed Distant signal. The infrequently used "01" headcode denoted Tunbridge Wells to Tonbridge. "Grove Tunnel" is not to be confused with "Grove Hill Tunnel" which is at the southern end of Tunbridge Wells Central station (and it does often cause confusion...). Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
1012and1011headingfromTunbridgeWellsWestafterrefuellingtherepassingGroveJunctionfixeddistantSun.23.02.1975
Hastings unit 1031 leaves Grove Junction with the empty coaching stock of the 12:45 from Charing Cross on Sunday 09.05.1976. The train had terminated at Tunbridge Wells Central due to engineering works between Grove Junction and Wadhurst. The heavily offset Distant signal on the right had almost disappeared in the trees, somewhat negating the sighting advantages of placing it there...! Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
Hastingsunit1031leavesGroveJcn.withtheECS12.45CharingCrossSun.9.05.1976.hadterminatedT.W.Centraldueeng.wks.betweenandWadhurst
It is Tuesday 24.04.1984 and 1316 makes its way from Grove Junction towards Tunbridge Wells West. Using the concrete lineside hut as a marker, it is interesting to watch how the lineside becomes steadily more overgrown over the years. Contrast this picture with the 1976 photograph above. Note also the check rail fitted on the sharp curve. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
It is roughly a year later and in this picture probably taken on Saturday 29.06.1985 1307 is surrounded by undergrowth as it makes its way along the line. The concrete lineside hut is just visible to the right of the rear of the train. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
Almost fighting its way through the trees between Grove Junction and Tunbridge Wells West is the 12:20 from Tunbridge Wells Central to Eridge formed by 1311 and 1317. It is the last day of services on the line, on 06.07.1985. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
AlmostfightingitswaythroughthetreesbetweenGroveJcn.andT.W.West12.20fromTunbridgeWellsCentralEridge13111317lastday6.07.1985
A close up of the Up Home signal (for trains from Tunbridge Wells West) at Grove Junction, together with the colour light distant signal below (which had it's own ladder). It is 06.07.1985, the last day of services on the line, and the signal would soon be lowered for the final time and the colour light extinguished. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
A wide shot of Grove Junction on Wednesday 19.05.1976. 1309 is on the 16:34 Eridge to Tonbridge service and the signalman is on the board crossing having just collected the single line token from the driver. The train is about to enter "Grove Hill Tunnel" which is at the southern end of Tunbridge Wells Central station (not to be confused with "Grove Tunnel").
Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
1308 leaves the single line at Grove Junction with the 12:08 service from Uckfield to Tonbridge on Sunday 08.08.1976. The signalman is on the board crossing and about to collect the token from the driver. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
1308leavesthesinglelineGroveJcn.with12.08UckfieldTonbridgeSun.8.08.1976
